Mine was always Hermione - from Book One and throughout the series, until the very end.

Sorry JK, I've never really got the Harry Potter thing. Surely books and films about wizards and spells and monsters are for children.

you mean you actually read the book ??

Good luck to them all and it's been a fantastic show-biz success but even he films ..as much as I love fantasy, I find only moderately amusing.

Odd..because the Famous Five and the Secret Seven were my favorites as a child and the most exciting things that ever happened in them was the kids got lost in a cave with a bar of chocolate to share between them, although they always got home safely to eat sandwiches with lots of lettuce and lashings of butter.

whatever.

For children? Not at all. The Order Of The Phoenix is a wonderful satire of governmental interference in the running of schools.

I only read the first book and thought it lacked any real zap or originality. I've heard the later ones were a bit better. I have seen the first four movies and my favourite character overall has to be Hagrid, but of the kids it's Hermione.

I disagree that books and movies about wizards are for children. The bulk of fantasy novels are written for the adult market, and there are massive conventions held throughout the world. Lord of the Rings was written for adults. It's the kind of escapism many adults need to combat the stresses of reality.

As most of you know I'm a huge fan of the books and have been since Day One.
My Potter tribute CD in 1999 was rejected by retail on the grounds that "nobody knows who this Harry Potter is".

I think JK Rowling is one of the greatest writers ever.

There. Flag nailed to the post.

I too have been a huge fan of Harry Potter since the first book. I know the books are aimed at a young readership, but there is nothing wrong with a bit of escapism once in a while. JK Rowling spins a great yarn, but when it comes to children's books, I do prefer Pullman's "His Dark materials" trilogy for a complete package of great writing.

I'd probably plump for Snape as my favourite character.